Home / Business and Economy / £10k Grant Revives Vacant Oswestry Shop
£10k Grant Revives Vacant Oswestry Shop
27 Apr
Summary
- A £10,000 government grant helped renovate a vacant building.
- The funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund was crucial.
- The restored ground floor now operates as a hairdresser.
A formerly vacant shop in Oswestry, described as "uninhabitable" upon purchase in February 2025, has been successfully renovated thanks to a £10,000 government grant. The funding, provided by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, covered critical structural repairs, including the installation of seven steel beams and roof component replacement.
Owner Jodie Lamont, a former building surveyor, stated the grant "stopped costs spiralling" and enabled her to "move forward with confidence." This commercial property is her first, purchased using her pension fund. She highlighted the challenge of securing loans for structurally unsound buildings.
The council confirmed extensive structural issues were discovered after internal plaster was stripped, necessitating a stabilization plan to prevent further threat to the building's future. The grant has made the premises safe, and Lamont seeks further funding for complete refurbishment.
The ground floor is now operational as a hairdresser, with plans to restore the first floor and potentially expand the business. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to replace previous EU programs and offers grants for property improvements.
